Over the past few weeks, I haven’t had the energy to do much with my hair. I love taking the time to nurture my hair and create new styles and all of that. But when I was sick, I really wondered if doing my hair would have been so daunting if it was still relaxed.
No, I’m not running to the salon any time soon to slap some Optimum relaxer in my hair.
But I do wonder, if I really knew how to take care of my hair when it was relaxed — not relaxing every six weeks, wearing protective styles, etc. — would I have been so quick to go natural? Yes, I understand that my hair wouldn’t be as healthy as it is right now by the very fact that putting a chemical in your hair is going to wear it down faster than any twists that I can do.
After spending a lot of time on hair blogs and You.Tube, there are Black women who have relaxers and beautiful, strong-looking hair. I can’t believe I’m actually typing this, but I don’t necessarily believe anymore that relaxers are the devil. I’ll promote them to imps. Alas, that is another blog for another day.
The answer is I probably would have still ended up with natural hair – mainly because of my scalp problems that the relaxer was just exacerbating.
Sometimes the life of a relaxed chick looks so easy. Wash, condition, blow dry, flat iron and go about your business. For us natural chicas? Detangle (however long that takes and that can take FOREVER!), wash, condition, then take a couple of hours to style. Finally, fall asleep in a tired lump.
Don’t get me wrong – I love my natural hair, but the last eight weeks have been cruel (and my scalp is paying for it – I’ll tell you about that another day). For as great as natural hair is, there is a time trade-off that, on a regular Friday, I enjoy. But when all you want to do is crawl into bed, the very thought of going through the production can make you lie down and cry.
So ladies, what do you think? Would you ever consider relaxing your natural locks again? Especially now that you know more about healthy hair practices?
The Accidental Natural 
I must admit, I have thought about it. But, when I see how well my hair is doing and how beautiful and full it looks in its natural texture, I snap back into reality. I think the remedy is to buy a nice wig or a bangin’ hat to rock on those days you don’t feel up to snuff.
I tried the wig thing and I realized, I’m not a wig person 🙂 They just feel wrong on my head. I think it’s time to get some braids or twists to get me through.
I’d never go back. I love the relationship I have with my hair now. When it was relaxed I just wrapped it, and unwrapped it in the morning. That was simple, but I enjoy my ritual now of doing my hair, and I definitely feel more like myself with my natural texture.
I agree with you about enjoying the ritual. I actually look forward to washing and twisting my hair. It makes me feel like I am really nurturing something. Well, I am!
That’s the thing – I love the ritual of doing my hair. Unfortunately, the ritual felt torturous 😦 I took a good few hours yesterday and did my hair and enjoyed it for the first time in months. But like I wrote above, I think it’s time for some braids or twists.
The few times I’ve gone back to relaxer was only so far as to ‘texturize’ {a farce, I know 🙂 } and trying to maintain the curl, but ‘looser’. But I truly do not like my hair relaxed. I love my curls so much, and really dislike how my hair feels when straight. I find that how I maintain my hair doesn’t take exorbitant amounts of time – I either wash and go, wearing a big curly puff or wash n’go and just pull into a bun. I don’t find detangling particularly time consuming {I do so in the shower with tons of conditioner glopped on}. Right now, I’ve decided to keep my hair single braided for the next 6 months as my ‘protective’ style {re-braiding monthly}. I’m not into styling, so I like the simplest thing I can do!
I’ve gotten very simplistic – my twists for a year – to attain my hair goal, but the act of retwisting so they look decent takes time. Thankfully, I’m feeling better so it’s not as daunting, but for a couple of weeks, I really wondered if I would be as miserable if I didn’t have to go through the entire production of it.
I wouldn’t be any happier with relaxed hair when my hair started breaking off because of the changes to the weather, hormones and sheer laziness on my part 😉
nope….i can have way more looks with my curls and I just don’t like limp straight hair on me, so no need to relax. I can flat iron my hair if i want it straight for a bit
Nah, I don’t believe so. I’m too comfortable with my hair, and I like looking different than everyone else.
Additionally, I have no desire to do my hair every day. Right now I’m pretty much get-up-and-go.
Don’t see myself ever relaxing again but that doesn’t mean one day I might not decide to wear my hair straight (which I never do now). I’d wig, weave, press or blowdry before I relaxed. Don’t see it happening.
Yes i feel you. On youtube ive seen where i was going wrong with my relaxed hair. I didnt know how to maintain it. So i went back to relaxer and i dont have breakage anymore. My hair actullay bounces and moves unlike before it was so damaged it layed there like a board. People tried to lock me into natural hair but its freedom of choice. I dont regret. I feel cuter with my hair relaxed. I dont feel as savvy though. But u have to take the bitter with the sweet! =)
I’m still natural – I can’t see myself relaxing again. When my hair is straight it doesn’t feel like me anymore. But I don’t think we need to be locked into anything. If natural hair works for you, great. If you prefer relaxed hair, go ahead. Glad that you found what works for you 🙂
NEVER LOl